Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-05
LANGSTON'S TRIAL.
OLE WITNESS ON THE STAND FOB
TWO DAYS.
Moro Expert Testimony-Puryear Gives
Up all Hope-rhs Rains and
the Crops.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Disps,ch.l
DtrEpGpr-pa Aucret 1897

PETERSBURG, August 4, 1887.
The trial Of Langston, charged with
the murder of John II. Rulfin, pro-
crosses slowly. but it grows the more
interesting as it progresses. DR.. Il.
ID. McIlwaine, Runin's attending ply
sician, who was put on the witness
stand at 8 o'clock yesterday morning,
has been the only witness examined
since that hour, and at the time of the
adjournment OF the court for dinner
this afternoon was still on the stand
under cross examination. He has stood
the test OF the rigid examination to
which be has been subjected for two
DAYS with great credit to himself and
bis profession, and has never been at a
loss to answer any question. The de-
fence has endeavOred to make tie point
that the necessary appliances and IA
cilities for the successful performance
Of the delicate operation of laparoto-
nv. to which Ruiiin was subjected,
were not obtlinable here as they are
in the hospitals Of the large cities,
where 1t has been received with favor,
and that tine absence OF such appli
ances may have resulted to the injury
of the patient The medical testimony
SO far, however, has not been uncertain
as 10 the direct cause of Ruilin's death.
Ii has attributed death TO the effect OF
the bullet-wounds through the mites
tines. Che latitude OF the examination
is believed to have developed much
that is irrelevant to the law Oh the case.
In the course OF his examination to-
day Dr. Mcllwaine said that Kufiin was
a poor man and did not have the adj
vantagcs possessed by the rich that
the operation was performed rs an act
OF charity as well as a matter OF duty,
as the only means of saving the life OF
the unfortunate man that he received
no compensation for his services, ex-
pected none, and bore the expenses OF
the treatmt Mt himself.
DR.. Mcllwainc was asked by de-
fcndant's counsel if he had not re-
marked to Kuffn that If you do not
die we will not be able to break that
mans Nangston's) neck?" He re-
Piled calmly but emphatically Ono. "
Equally emphatic was he in denying
that he had contributed TO the fund for
the employment OF Ex-Governor Came
ron 70 assist in the prosecution, or that
be had even advised any one to contri-
butte to that fund, or had expressed
surprise that any one should refuse to
contribute.
At this point the Commonwealth
attorney objected TO tins line of ques-
tons. unless counsel for the defence
should name the parties to whom such
statements were alleged to have been
made and give the occasions on which
they were made. The Court sustained
the objection and the questions were
withdrawn.
All witnesses in the case, except the
medical experts who have been sum
moncd to testify, were to-day dis
charged by the Court until Saturday,
which rather shows that for the r.
mainderof the week only medical testi-
mony bearing upon the case will be
heard.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
Mr.. Alfred Archer, whose illness at
Williamsburg was mentioned in my last
letter, died there last evening. His re-
mains will be brought here for inter
mcnt. Mr.. Archer was for many years
p grocery merchant in this city, and a
few weeks ago. bis mind becoming de-
ranged, be was sent to the asylum at
Williamsburg for treatment. He leaves
a widow and two children.
Mr.. Louis Youngblood having quail
fed as sheriff of Prince George, will
have the unpleasant duty to perform,
among bis first official acts, OF hanging
Puryeer. He finds everything pre-
pared, however. for the occasion. Pur-
year has finally abandoned al! hope Of
any further reprieve or interference by
the Governor. and has made up his
mind that death is inevitable. He will
delivera speech from the scai!'eld giving
some history Of his case, but will make
10 confession. He says he has none to
make.
Judge Yarrell, of Grecnsville coun-
ty, has appointed Mr.. W. N. Powell as
supervisor for the district of Hicksford
to ill the vacancy caused by the death
CT L. j. 1illar. The selection OF ST.
pcryisor was left by the Judge to the
Domocratic Executive Committee OF
Greensvillc, which decided in favor OF
Mr.. Powell.
The rains have been very heavy this
week in Greensville and considerable
damage has been caused to the crops,
which aIc reported to be the finest
known il that section for years.
II